Travel gridlock on Memorial Day weekend offers a bonus: $12.3 billion boost to the economy

OPINION:

Yes, now that a record 37.2 million Americans are all trying to reach the beach at once this weekend, the holiday traffic is bad. But there is at least a little reward here: The U.S. Travel Association reports that all this movement over a long holiday weekend translates to a $12.3 billion direct boost to the U.S. economy. That’s about $330 per person.

“Gas prices are low, the economy is getting better, and people have money to spend and places to go,” says Roger Dow, CEO of the organization.

But he also says somebody must tend the “crying needs” of our transportation infrastructure, on the ground in and in the air.

“Our research shows that within a decade, the average daily traffic on many of nation’s busiest highways will be equal to Labor Day, traditionally one of the most-driven times of year,” Mr. Dow predicts. “There’s similarly bad news for our largest airports, many of which are already experiencing Thanksgiving-like passenger volumes a day or two during the average week.”